Women's basketball

Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE, US PRESSWIRE

Key dates: July 28, U.S. opener against Croatia; Aug. 9, semifinals; Aug. 11, medal games Venue: Olympic Park Basketball Arena (pool play, quarterfinals); North Greenwich Arena (semifinals, finals) Big story: It will be stunning if Team USA doesn't win a fifth consecutive gold. The U.S. has a 33-game winning streak, including a 5-0 run in preliminary play in Beijing with an average margin of victory of 43 points. Top U.S. prospects: Guards Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird are in their third Olympics, as is forward Tamika Catchings. Candace Parker averaged only 4.5 points in Beijing but will blow through that easily in London. Others to watch: Maya Moore and Tina Charles are first-timers who will command attention off the bench. Little-known fact: Team USA Coach Geno Auriemma is overly familiar with half the roster, coaching Bird, Taurasi, Charles, Moore, Swin Cash and Asjha Jones while they were at the University of Connecticut.

Key dates: July 28, U.S. opener against Croatia; Aug. 9, semifinals; Aug. 11, medal games Venue: Olympic Park Basketball Arena (pool play, quarterfinals); North Greenwich Arena (semifinals, finals) Big story: It will be stunning if Team USA doesn't win a fifth consecutive gold. The U.S. has a 33-game winning streak, including a 5-0 run in preliminary play in Beijing with an average margin of victory of 43 points. Top U.S. prospects: Guards Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird are in their third Olympics, as is forward Tamika Catchings. Candace Parker averaged only 4.5 points in Beijing but will blow through that easily in London. Others to watch: Maya Moore and Tina Charles are first-timers who will command attention off the bench. Little-known fact: Team USA Coach Geno Auriemma is overly familiar with half the roster, coaching Bird, Taurasi, Charles, Moore, Swin Cash and Asjha Jones while they were at the University of Connecticut. (Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE, US PRESSWIRE)

Key dates: July 28, U.S. opener against Croatia; Aug. 9, semifinals; Aug. 11, medal games Venue: Olympic Park Basketball Arena (pool play, quarterfinals); North Greenwich Arena (semifinals, finals) Big story: It will be stunning if Team USA doesn't win a fifth consecutive gold. The U.S. has a 33-game winning streak, including a 5-0 run in preliminary play in Beijing with an average margin of victory of 43 points. Top U.S. prospects: Guards Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird are in their third Olympics, as is forward Tamika Catchings. Candace Parker averaged only 4.5 points in Beijing but will blow through that easily in London. Others to watch: Maya Moore and Tina Charles are first-timers who will command attention off the bench. Little-known fact: Team USA Coach Geno Auriemma is overly familiar with half the roster, coaching Bird, Taurasi, Charles, Moore, Swin Cash and Asjha Jones while they were at the University of Connecticut.